Meet The Maker - Loveness Lee

This week we interview Loveness Lee about the inspirations behind her jewellery. How a love of science has been playfully incorporated through experimenting with patinas and the unique colours these produce. The wonderful abstract shapes and decorative textures that feature throughout her collections are captured directly from nature through the lost wax casting method to create abstract shapes and wearable works of art.

When did your jewellery making journey begin?

I grew up in China, where my love for art and design was nurtured by my architect mother, leading me to explore fine art and sculpture. After moving to the UK in 2009, I studied jewellery design at top London universities, where I developed my signature technique of using nature as a collaborator in creating abstract, free-flowing forms. This approach continues to inspire each Loveness Lee collection, reflecting the textures and shapes found in the natural world.

Who inspires you the most? 

My Mother. When I was younger, my mum would always wear her beautiful long dresses and high heels paired with a safety helmet to the construction site. As an architect, she had built her career on unconventional beauty and would take me to exhibitions and art galleries to look for inspiration.

Many years later, she has shaped my inspiration for Loveness Lee jewellery and encourages me every day to build a brand based on serendipitous beauty that helps women stand out, embrace their individuality and feel beautiful wherever they are.

Where did you find inspiration for the earrings in the exhibition, tell us a little bit about each one if you can?

My designs are based on abstract shapes and textures found in nature. The earrings at the exhibition are inspired by mushrooms, cactus skeletons, goose barnacles, fossils, and more. I always find beauty in the unexpected and transform them into pieces of wearable art.

If you weren’t a jeweller what would you choose as a career?

I wanted to study Chemistry, I love the process of doing experiments and being really hands on. That is why in my undergraduate study, I mixed my own Patina solutions to react with brass to create different coloured patinations.

Please can you tell us a little bit about your creative process?

Each piece of our jewellery begins in our London store, where we replicate nature’s textures using a silicone mould. We then inject wax into the mould and carefully shape the design, preserving as much detail as possible. The wax model travels to Scotland to be cast in recycled silver using lost wax casting technique. While casting is underway, we source local materials like recycled findings and lab-grown gemstones from Hatton Garden. Once the silver returns to London, it’s hand-finished by my team, with select pieces hallmarked by the London Assay Office. For gold-plated designs, the final step is an 18ct gold finish, also completed in Hatton Garden.

Sounds of the Studio - what are you listening to? We’d love to hear about podcasts recommendations/ studio playlists/ the sounds that motivate you?

A friend of mine is a musician. He has an extensive playlist of all kinds of music genres on spotify, I love and trust his taste in music and he is always the first person to find out about niche new music.

Stevie Red McMinn

What’s next for you and your brand?

More engagement rings and wedding rings. Expand to USA.

Which is your favourite piece you’ve ever made?

I cannot say which piece is my favourite one I have ever made because each texture tells a different story and they are all my kids. However, I can tell you which ones are my favourites to wear personally. The bigger, the better. I like statement pieces, such as Saguaro.

If you could choose anyone, historical or current who would you love to create something for?

My mother.

Finally, for fun, what would be your absolute dream piece to make?

I am in the process of making myself the biggest bangle. Stay tuned :)

Loveness' Collection is available to view and purchase as part of our Summer Statements Exhibition. Featuring over fifty unique statement earrings, blending artistic flair with innovative design.

Showcasing the talented works of: Deco Echo, Gill Galloway-Whitehead Isobel Sullivan, Loveness Lee, Rebecca Burt, Ruth Leslie, Sarah Straussberg and Scarlett Cohen French.